This is my final transport report on behalf of Chiseldon Parish Council, as I will be stepping down as a parish councillor on 7th May.
Two road resurfacing schemes have been completed in the Chiseldon area in the last month. The Hodson Road improvement was on time, but it gave it us only a two hourly bus service through the village, as the 81 did not come through the roadworks. The Mays Lane works had the dates changed four times. Both Stagecoach buses came through the village, but the stops on the Station Road loop were not served. We have had good feedback on the installation of cats-eyes on the Hodson Road improvement.
Stagecoach West are changing a number of their bus times on 21st April, owing to congestion getting into and out of Swindon. There is no change to the Chiseldon services, as we are waiting for more details of the Junction 15 roadworks, starting in September 2019. We think it will add 20 minutes to the journey time into and out of Swindon.
The buses running over Easter both on Stagecoach West and Salisbury Reds will be running either a Saturday or Sunday service between 19th-22nd April. Please check websites for more details.
Good news. The car parks in the centre of Swindon, run by SBC, are now free on Sundays.
The new development of the town centre to take away the bus station, will going ahead later this year. The temporary bus station whilst the works are progressing will be in the car park between the Wyvern Theatre and the Court House, off Princes Street.
GWR will be running the last HST train on Saturday 18th May at 18.30 from Paddington to Taunton. It will call at Swindon. However, there will be special trains on Saturday 1st June, running through the GWR network, raising money for charity. This will be the last time you can travel on this type train which has been on the rail network since 1976.
I would like to thank all the organisations involved in public transport in the Swindon and Wiltshire area including the three operations managers of the bus companies, passenger transport officers of SBC and Wiltshire Council, railway company GWR and Network Rail, the editor of the Ridgeway Bell, Dorren Swanell, the parish clerk, Clair Wilkinson and all the residents that have given me information on public transport.
Cllr David Hill Transport Representative – Chiseldon Parish Council